Bundoora vs Macleod

Bundoora is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Macleod. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Macleod, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Macleod: a median of $1.2 million, against $875,000 in Bundoora. On these figures, Bundoora tends to suit young adults and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Bundoora

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (75 vs 19)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (17 vs 6)
  • But Macleod carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 77/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Bundoora

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($432,750 vs $725,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($875,000 vs $1,195,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Bundoora

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 86/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Bundoora

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 2)
  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 86/100)
  • But Macleod carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 77/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Bundoora

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.3% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Bundoora and Macleod drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bundoora Macleod
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Bundoora Macleod
Walkability 95 / 86
Bundoora — Walkability: 95/100 Macleod — Walkability: 86/100
Safety 23 / 59
Bundoora — Safety: 23/100 Macleod — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 44 / 100
Bundoora — Low fire risk: 44/100 Macleod — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 58 / 73
Bundoora — Low flood risk: 58/100 Macleod — Low flood risk: 73/100

Demographics

Bundoora has more residents (28,068 vs 9,892); Macleod has higher household incomes ($102,232 vs $86,736).

Bundoora Macleod
Population 28,068
+65% vs other
 9,892
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.0% +1.3%
Median age 38 41
Median household income $86,736/yr $102,232/yr
+18% vs other
Median weekly rent $381/wk $396/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bundoora Macleod
0-4 4.8% / 5.9%
Bundoora — 0-4: 4.8% Macleod — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 9.6% / 11.7%
Bundoora — 5-14: 9.6% Macleod — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 6.2% / 5.6%
Bundoora — 15-19: 6.2% Macleod — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 9.7% / 5.1%
Bundoora — 20-24: 9.7% Macleod — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 15.7% / 12.1%
Bundoora — 25-34: 15.7% Macleod — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 12.1% / 14.5%
Bundoora — 35-44: 12.1% Macleod — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 12.9% / 14.4%
Bundoora — 45-54: 12.9% Macleod — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 11.3% / 11.0%
Bundoora — 55-64: 11.3% Macleod — 55-64: 11.0%
65-74 9.0% / 9.9%
Bundoora — 65-74: 9.0% Macleod — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 6.1% / 5.9%
Bundoora — 75-84: 6.1% Macleod — 75-84: 5.9%
85+ 2.6% / 4.2%
Bundoora — 85+: 2.6% Macleod — 85+: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bundoora 44.2% couple families
Bundoora — Couple Families: 44.2% Bundoora — Lone Person: 30.3% Bundoora — One Parent Families: 15.1% Bundoora — Group Household: 8.3% Bundoora — Other Families: 2.1%
Macleod 45.7% couple families
Macleod — Couple Families: 45.7% Macleod — Lone Person: 36.1% Macleod — One Parent Families: 13.1% Macleod — Group Household: 3.9% Macleod — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bundoora 28.6% renting
Bundoora — Owned Outright: 37.9% Bundoora — Mortgage: 33.5% Bundoora — Renting: 28.6%
Macleod 23.6% renting
Macleod — Owned Outright: 38.8% Macleod — Mortgage: 37.7% Macleod — Renting: 23.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Bundoora Macleod
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 20.5%
Bundoora — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Macleod — Bachelor Degree: 20.5%
Certificate III & IV 10.2% / 8.8%
Bundoora — Certificate III & IV: 10.2% Macleod — Certificate III & IV: 8.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.5%
Bundoora — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Macleod — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 8.9%
Bundoora — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Macleod — Postgraduate Degree: 8.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 3.7%
Bundoora — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Macleod — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bundoora Macleod
China 7.6% / 2.8%
Bundoora — China: 7.6% Macleod — China: 2.8%
India 4.0% / 2.5%
Bundoora — India: 4.0% Macleod — India: 2.5%
England 1.3% / 2.8%
Bundoora — England: 1.3% Macleod — England: 2.8%
Italy 2.2% / 1.5%
Bundoora — Italy: 2.2% Macleod — Italy: 1.5%
Sri Lanka 2.2% / 1.2%
Bundoora — Sri Lanka: 2.2% Macleod — Sri Lanka: 1.2%
Greece 2.0% / —
Bundoora — Greece: 2.0% Macleod — Greece: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 1.2%
Bundoora — New Zealand: not among its largest Macleod — New Zealand: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bundoora 76.1% houses
Bundoora — Houses: 76.1% Bundoora — Townhouses: 14.8% Bundoora — Flats / Apartments: 9.1%
Macleod 76.6% houses
Macleod — Houses: 76.6% Macleod — Townhouses: 20.0% Macleod — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bundoora Macleod
Median house price $875,000 $1,195,000
Median unit price $432,750 $725,000
Median land price $980,000 $1,010,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 316 sales
 24 days
from 69 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bundoora Macleod
2 bed $450K / $700K
Bundoora — 2 bed: $450K (132 sales) Macleod — 2 bed: $700K (27 sales)

132 vs 27 sales

3 bed $640K / $826K
Bundoora — 3 bed: $640K (15 sales) Macleod — 3 bed: $826K (14 sales)

15 vs 14 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bundoora Macleod
2 bed $535K / $893K
Bundoora — 2 bed: $535K (23 sales) Macleod — 2 bed: $893K (6 sales)

23 vs 6 sales

3 bed $850K / $1.01M
Bundoora — 3 bed: $850K (314 sales) Macleod — 3 bed: $1.01M (61 sales)

314 vs 61 sales

4 bed $1M / $1.56M
Bundoora — 4 bed: $1M (136 sales) Macleod — 4 bed: $1.56M (37 sales)

136 vs 37 sales

5 bed $1.02M / $1.57M
Bundoora — 5 bed: $1.02M (28 sales) Macleod — 5 bed: $1.57M (8 sales)

28 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Bundoora Macleod
Residential 43% 66%
Infrastructure and transport 23% 12%
Parks and recreation 23% 21%
Other and special use 7% 0%
Industrial 3% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Bundoora Macleod
New dwellings approved 722
across Banyule
same for both
Approvals change year on year -75%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Bundoora Macleod
Houses 3.8%
$600/wk on $820K
 3.6%
$700/wk on $1.02M
Units 5.3%
$460/wk on $450K
 3.6%
$492/wk on $715K

Ranking within VIC

Bundoora Macleod
House price Higher than 63% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
Income Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Schools Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 22% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 24% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 54% of VIC Higher than 40% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC

Liveability

Macleod scores higher overall (69 vs 57); Bundoora is more walkable (95 vs 86).

Bundoora Macleod
Grade B A
Score 57/100 69/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Bundoora carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 0); Bundoora carries more crime risk (77 vs 41).

Bundoora Macleod
Bushfire Moderate
56/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
77/100
 Moderate
41/100
Flood Moderate
42/100
 Low
27/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Bundoora Macleod
Inside the suburb 7 5
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 0.0 km
 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 2.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.4% 2.9%

Schools in Bundoora

  • Northside Christian College Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Damian's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Bundoora Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Norris Bank Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Parade College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Bundoora Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Macleod

  • Charles La Trobe P-12 College Government · Combined below peers
  • Macleod College Government · Combined below peers
  • Charles La Trobe P-12 College-Deaf Facility Government · Combined
  • Ivanhoe Grammar School - University Campus Independent · Combined
  • Mastery Schools Victoria Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Bundoora Macleod
Supermarkets 8 1
Cafes & restaurants 46 2
Parks & reserves 75 19
Childcare 17 6
GPs 11 2
Pharmacies 6 1
Hospitals 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 1
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 7 2

Mobility

Bundoora Macleod
Walkability score 95/100 86/100
Distance to Melbourne 17.2 km 18.9 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 30 min
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 638.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 98.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 3083
 1.5%
postcode 3085
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 3083
 25
postcode 3085

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Bundoora Macleod
Car (driver) 62.1% / 47.1%
Bundoora — Car (driver): 62.1% Macleod — Car (driver): 47.1%
Worked from Home 26.0% / 42.9%
Bundoora — Worked from Home: 26.0% Macleod — Worked from Home: 42.9%
Train 2.7% / 5.2%
Bundoora — Train: 2.7% Macleod — Train: 5.2%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 2.8%
Bundoora — Car (passenger): 4.6% Macleod — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Walked Only 1.4% / 1.0%
Bundoora — Walked Only: 1.4% Macleod — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bus 1.6% / 0.3%
Bundoora — Bus: 1.6% Macleod — Bus: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.1%).

Setting

Bundoora Macleod
Elevation 102 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 69 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 19.3 km 17.7 km

NBN connectivity

Bundoora Macleod
Connectivity score 90/100 89/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 56%
12,524 premises
 46%
4,599 premises

Climate

Bundoora Macleod
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bundoora Macleod
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Bundoora Macleod
Average residential rate $1,787/yr
same for both
Council Banyule
same for both

Federal electorate

Bundoora Macleod
Division Jagajaga
same for both
Member Kate Thwaites
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bundoora Macleod
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bundoora

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Trams Transport Hub

Macleod

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Quiet Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bundoora

Bundoora vs Reservoir Bundoora vs Mill Park Bundoora vs Lalor Bundoora vs Greensborough Bundoora vs Thomastown Bundoora vs Watsonia

Other comparisons with Macleod

Macleod vs Greensborough Macleod vs Rosanna Macleod vs Heidelberg Heights Macleod vs Watsonia Macleod vs Heidelberg West Macleod vs Yallambie
Full data on Bundoora Full data on Macleod
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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